Two shot 'in revenge for pub row'

A drunken row in a suburban pub in south London led to a "horrific" revenge attack in which two men were shot dead and a third stabbed.

The landlord of a pub was being hunted by police today as a suspect in the shooting. At least one of the gunmen is a clay-pigeon shooting enthusiast.

Last night police had made two arrests and seized three shotguns while two men were still on the run.

Detectives believe at least two shotguns were used in the attack in the car park of the Good Companions pub, Sanderstead, south Croydon, when Anthony Ellison, 27, of Coulsdon, and Michael Jones, 25, of south Croydon, were killed. A third man also in his twenties, Michael Dellaway, was seriously injured.

Police have ruled out any link to criminals and believe it was dispute that got out of hand fuelled, according to one detective, by "drink and testosterone". The attack took place on Saturday night after an earlier fight, involving two groups of men, at the White Lion in Warlingham, three miles away.

One of the groups, including the three victims, left there at 6.45pm, moving on to the Good Companions.

Mario Deighton, landlord of the Good Companions, said: "I knew Micky Jones and Michael Dellaway for 18 months and they were lovely lads, young guys full of life. They were drinking here in the afternoon and just popped out for about an hour at 6pm. They came back in here just before 7pm and by 8pm two of them were dead and one was seriously injured.

"It was like a battle in Beirut outside in the car park. I was cooking in the kitchen when I heard shots and a lot of commotion. I ran to the front of the pub and Micky Jones and Michael Dellaway were stumbling around with blood pouring from their wounds.

"I had to use four bandages to try to stem the flow of blood from Michael Dellaway's wound to his arm. Micky Jones staggered outside the pub and collapsed in the car park. He had his friends tending to him but he was in a serious state." Detective Chief Inspector Richard Heselden, leading the inquiry, said: "We are keeping an open mind as to the motive, but it does appear to be retaliatory action as a result of the earlier altercation. It is a horrific crime."

A Yard spokeswoman said a man in his fifties had been arrested in the area shortly after the attack. She issued descriptions of two other men who are being sought.

One is 5ft 10in, in his late thirties or early forties, slim, with short black hair and a goatee beard, and wearing a green fleece jacket. The other is between 6ft and 6ft 2in, slim, believed to be in his fifties, with greased-back short mousy brown hair.

All victims and suspects are white. Anyone with information should call 020 8284 9765 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.